Ghatīkāra

One of the great Brahmā. In the time of Kassapa
Buddha he was a potter of Vehalinga, looking after his blind parents. He was a
very pious and devoted follower of the Buddha, ministering to him better than
anyone else, and the Buddha accepted his invitation in preference to that of the
king of Benares. It is said that when the Buddha was in need of anything he
would go to Ghatīkāra's house and take it, whether he were at home or not, so
great was his confidence in Ghatīkāra's piety. Once, when Ghatīkāra was absent,
the people, at the Buddha's suggestion, took away the thatch from his house to
roof the hut of Tathāgata. For three months Ghatīkāra's house remained open to
the sky, but no rain fell on it, so great was his faith (Mil..223f). According to
the Nalapāna Jātaka (J.i.172), no rain
will ever fall on the site of Ghatīkāra's' house as long as this kappa lasts.

The Bodhisatta, who at the time of Ghatīkāra was a young brahmin named
Jotipāla, was the friend of Ghatīkāra but had no faith in the Buddha, and
Ghatīkāra, having failed to persuade him to visit the Buddha, in the end took
him by force. Jotipāla was converted and joined the Order, but Ghatīkāra, as the
only support of his parents, could not renounce the world.
Kikī, king of Benares, having heard of his virtues
from Kassapa Buddha, sent him five hundred cartloads of the choicest rice, etc.,
but Ghatīkāra returned the gifts, saying that he had plenty for himself
(M.ii.46ff; S. i.35f; Bu.xxv.41; SnA.i.152).

After death, Ghatīkāra was born as a Mahābrahmā in the
Avihā Brahma-world, and an
Anāgāmī. He was evidently already a
Sakadāgāmi before his death (see DhA.i.380), but he did not wish his attainments
to be known (AA.i.44).

He provided the Buddha with the eight requisites of a monk when the Buddha,
having left the world, decided to lead the life of a Bhikkhu (J.i.65;
SnA.ii.382; BuA.236; VvA.314). The begging bowl, then provided by him, vanished
when the Buddha was given a bowl of milk rice by
Sujātā (J.i.69).

According to the Samyutta Nikāya (S.i.35f; 60), Ghatīkāra visited the Buddha
some time after the Enlightenment and the Buddha reminded him of their former
friendship. Ghatīkāra, on that occasion, speaks of several others (besides
Jotipāla) who had been his friends in Vehalinga - Upaka,
Phalaganda, Pukkusāti,
Bhaddiya, Khandadeva, Bāhuraggi and
Pingiya. They had listened to the Buddha's
teaching and, after death, were born in the
Avihā-world, where he himself was. In this context the Buddha addresses him
as Bhaggava.